How can you edit simple tubes?
You can convert a curve to a mesh 'as viewed' in at least two ways:


Alt+C -> Mesh from curve
In user preferences, under addons, enable 'Corrective Shape Keys', then there will be an operator available for converting this and other types of objects to clean meshes with modifiers applied. In the spacebar menu, it will be named 'Duplicate and Apply All' (I like setting  a shortcut to Ctrl+Shift+D, YMMV)